Drake, Jay-Z and Nicki Minaj Lead Pack of BET Awards Nominees

Drake, Jay-Z and Nicki Minaj Lead Pack of BET Awards Nominees

Published May 18, 2010

Drake, Jay-Z and Nicki Minaj lead the pack of nominees for the 10th annual BET Awards, while the network revealed that Queen Latifah will host the momentous event.

The nominations were announced at the 230 Fifth Rooftop Garden Bar and Restaurant in New York City earlier today (May 18). Drake is nominated for Best Male Hip-Hop Artist and twice for Best Collaboration for "Successful" with Trey Songz and "Forever" featuring Eminem, Lil Wayne and Kanye West. He was also nominated three times as part of Young Money.

Meanwhile, Hov is nominated in five categories, including Best Male Hip-Hop Artist, Viewers’ Choice, Video of the Year and twice in the Best Collaboration category for “Empire State of Mind” featuring Alicia Keys and “Run this Town” featuring Kanye West and Rihanna. Nicki Minaj picked up nods for Best New Artist and Best Female Hip-Hop Artist in addition to three nominations with Young Money.

Beyoncé, Alicia Keys, Melanie Fiona and Trey Songz received four nods, Rihanna, B.o.B, Young Money and Fabolous, three apiece while Maxwell, Sade, Kanye West and Monica received two. Usher, Chris Brown, Raheem DeVaughn, Black Eyed Peas, Dirty Money, New Boyz, Trina, The Clipse and Mary J. Blige were also nominated.

High off the success of “Just Wright,” which took $8.5 million in its opening weekend at the box office, Latifah took to the podium to express her excitement about hosting what she called, “the best show on television.” While she wouldn’t share what she has up her sleeve, she vowed to uphold the bar set by previous hosts like Mo’Nique, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith.

Diddy was also on hand with Dawn Richard and Kalenna of Dirty Money to introduce two new categories: Best Movie and the Young Star Award. Per Puff, the group’s “Last Train to Paris” LP was pushed back to coincide with the BET Awards. "The BET Awards are so big that I changed the date of my album to come out midnight after the BET Awards," Diddy revealed. Puff will also be hosting the official BET Awards after party sponsored by Coca-Cola. The event will double as a countdown to Dirty Money’s album release.

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